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Uncertainty over athletes could take years to clear

The cloud of uncertainty cast over Australian athletes by allegations of doping and corruption could take years to clear.

That is the view of World Anti-Doping Agency president John Fahey, who is critical of the delivery of revelations that have turned the international spotlight on Australian sport, while insisting codes should have been more proactive in the fight against cheating.

Australia's sports community was thrust onto the global stage after damning news delivered jointly by the Australian Crime Commission and federal sports ministry claimed widespread corruption and the use of illicit performance-enhancing substances by athletes.

"My regret is that they did it in such a general manner and as a result of announcing it when they did there will be a long time that will elapse before we know how bad, how extensive, which codes, which teams, which players, which athletes. That's not good for sport," Fahey said.

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"I'm afraid it's not likely that the cloud that is hanging over our head right now is going to be removed any time soon."

Asked how long it could take to deal with the findings, Fahey referred to the United States Anti-Doping Authority's investigation into disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.

"They worked for some two years before they laid charges. I sincerely hope that we don't see a similar time lapse in Australia," he said.

While the former NSW premier and Howard government minister has welcomed Australia's world-first moves to introduce legislation targeting cheats, he said sports governing bodies were equally responsible.

"You have to ask why our major football codes have not employed the athlete biological passport," Fahey said, referring to a WADA initiative that aims to trace doping by monitoring an individual's biological data rather than testing for banned substances.

"It is seen to be an effective tool wherever it's been used. It's happening in 25 areas of sport around the world and there's no reason why AFL, NRL and Rugby Union or Football Australia don't pick up this tool ... it would make them better at finding cheats in their sport. And they can afford to do it."

Meanwhile the fuse of investigation lit by last week's revelations will see allegations of doping referred to the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, while state and territory police will probe any linked suspicions of criminal misconduct.

"In my view there is a long way to go and it will probably take a lot longer than any of us would wish," Fahey said.

While Australia's domestic and international athletes wait to discover if they are under investigation, Fahey insists similar suspicions exist in other countries.

"We have been given clear indications that the underworld that are connected with performance-enhancing drugs are the same people who are connected with illegal drugs and the same people who are involved in match fixing. We know that exists in Europe, we know it exists in Asia, now we know it probably exists in Australia," he said.

"I am disappointed that the country that prides itself on fair play and in being a good sport may well now be tainted with this connection with organised crime."

Since the ACC announcement Fahey said interest in Australian sport has reached a peak.

"A lot of the time as I travel around the world there's not much interest in what's happening in Australia in sport ... [but] currently, the moment my Australian accent is listened to I get the question of the corruption in Australian sport," he said.

As a long-term method of combating doping Fahey sees education as the key and wants modules taught in schools and at universities showing the negatives of cheating.